Aight people, this could be a long one so buckle up!
Summer walked slowly up to Chiaki's desk, holding a completed test in her hands. He, along with everyone else smiled anxiously. She placed it on his desk and he immediately pulled out a Santa hat and cried, "Winter Break!" The school erupted with cries of victory as students stormed the halls trying to get out before the school had time to change its mind.
"Yes! Finally, we get a break from this place!" Tomika said as she and her group of friends exited the school.
"I don't know I might actually miss it." Gordon told the group before they all burst out laughing.
"I guess I will miss seeing all you guys for awhile." Zack said.
"Well, one of us." Katie muttered gestured to Freddy.
"So, what do each of you have planned?" Lawrence asked.
"Same as always, head up to the icy tundra of Alaska to see Gran Gran. Living the dream." Katie said with sarcasm.
"Well, Hanukkah is a special time at my house." Gordon started, "We light the candles, open presents and the whole family gets together to insult me and judge my life choices. So I'll be in my room alot." He finished up.
"My parents are hosting our family's Christmas party this year, so the whole family is going to be staying at our house." Frankie told them.
"Even your aunt Edna?" Katie asked.
"The one that snores the walls?" Freddy added.
"The same," He answered with a groaned.
"Oh, that's gotta suck." Freddy said with a laugh. "I feel so sorry for you man."
"What about you Zack?" Lawrence asked.
"California to see my dad's parents like we usually do."
"Sunny, warm California? Lucky!" Katie told him.
"You've clearly never been California." He told her. (author's note: it gets cold here. Never enough to snow, but it gets cold.)
"Gee, what are you doing Freddy? I'm so glad you asked Freddy." He said to himself to get everyone's attention. "I'm heading out to Tennessee to visit my Grandma's farm."
"You're a hick?" Tomika asked, surprised.
"On my dad's side yeah."
"Well, there's our ride," Tomika said, referring to herself and Lawrence, as his dad pulled up in front of them. "Stay cool people." She said as she climbed into the back.
"Text me when you guys land." Lawrence said, fist bumping Zack before getting in the car and driving off.
"I'll think of you everyday we're apart." Katie told Frankie as they held each other.
"The thought of you will help me survive this Christmas." He said before the two shared a kiss a parted ways.
Gordon stood awkwardly alone next to Zack and Freddy. "Well...bye." He said walking off. Zack and Freddy joined hands and made their way home.
"I wish I could with you. I'm sick of boring old California." Zack said disappointed. (author's note: me to Zack, I need a vacation.)
"Then you should come with me." Freddy told him.
"Oh yeah, that'll go over well-are you insane?" He asked.
"You should know the answer to that by now." Freddy replied.
"Look, my dad may finally be cool with you, but there's no way he'll let me go with you."
"Just ask Babe. Worst case scenario, he says no and I'll see you in January."
"Fine," Zack said caving. "I'll ask him."
"Cool, because we're here." Freddy said as they arrived at Zack's house.
"Do or die. I'll tell you what he says. Later Babe." He said before they shared a kiss and Zack went inside where his parents and Ashton were all there.
"Oh perfect Zack, you're home. Now hurry up and get yourself packed. We're taking off pretty early tomorrow-"
"Actually, I wanted to ask you guys about that. Mom, Dad, can I go with Freddy to spend Christmas with his family?" Zack asked.
"Of course," His mom told him.
"Absolutely not," His dad said at the same time. The two then looked at each other.
"David, kitchen now." His mom said as the two of them left the room. "What is wrong with Freddy now?" She asked once their kids were out of ear shot.
"Nothing Helen, but our son is not vacationing alone with his boyfriend."
"My parents let me vacation with you when we were young, remember?"
"Of course I remember, that's why Ashton's here." He told her. "Do you even know what goes through a teenage boy's mind?"
"They won't be having kids, I can guarantee that David."
"That is not my point and you know it." He told her.
"They're fighting aren't they?" Zack asked.
"You know what the kitchen means." Ashton told him. "Gotta admit though, you got balls asking Dad to go with Freddy."
"I am so tired of California you have no idea." He told him before their parents walked back into the room.
"We've reached an agreement." Their father declared. "After much consideration and your mother's...heavy persuasion, we'll allow you to spend Christmas with Freddy and his family." He said with a sigh.
"Really?! You're serious?! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Zack said hugging his parents before running upstairs to his room.
"We made the right choice," his mother said with a smile.
"I hope you're right." his father replied.
The next morning, Zack was dropped off in front of Freddy's house. He climbed out of the car with his suitcase and a backpack and took a deep breath before turning around to say goodbye to his parents. "Are you sure you have everything? Maybe we should drive back to the house real quick and make sure."
"Helen, you've got to stop babying the boy. It was your idea to let him go."
"I know, but this is his first Christmas away from home."
"Mom, I have everything I'm sure."
"Ok, ok. Promise you'll call us every single day?" She asked.
"I promise Mom,"
"Ok, bye Honey." She said leaning out of the window and hugging him.
"Bye Mom, bye Dad, bye Ashton!" He said as the car pulled away. He walked up to the door and knocked. Freddy opened the door half asleep, but his face lit up upon seeing his boyfriend there.
"Baby!" He said hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad your parents said yes! You're going to love it, I promise." He said walking Zack into his house.
"At this point, I'd take Katie frozen wasteland vacation." Zack told him.
"Sweet, low expectations. Don't have to try that hard." He said with a laugh.
"When do we leave?" Zack asked.
"Tomorrow morning." Freddy's mother said walking downstairs.
"Oh hey Ms. Huerta," Zack said.
"Please, call me Eva."
"Can't, it'd feel weird." He told her.
"It'll be a pleasure having you along for the trip."
"Thanks so much for letting me go with you guys."
"No problem, my mother-in-law went on for two hours last night, she was so excited to meet you." She told him.
"Hey Mom, is it ok if Zack sleeps in my room tonight?" Freddy asked.
"Of course Freddy." He started to celebrate before she spoke up. "You can sleep on the couch then." She said with a laugh.
"Damn it," He said, getting off his high horse. Bart walked the down the stairs still in his pj's and yawned.
"Hey Freddy, hey Mom, hey Zack." He said before stopping in his tracks. "Zack? What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Zacks, going to be coming with us to Grandma's farm this year."
"How come Freddy gets to bring someone?" He asked.
"Are you dating anyone?" Their mom asked.
"If I say Milhouse, would you believe me?" Bart asked.
"Hm, no." She told him.
"Zack? Zack, wake up." Freddy said shaking his boyfriend awake. Zack groaned and slowly opened his eyes. "You've been sleeping since we got off the plain. We're almost there." Zack blinked a few times and looked out the window at the landscape and gasped. There was snow everywhere.
"Wow, are you seeing this?" He asked, still in awe.
"You don't see snow alot do you?" Freddy asked with a laugh.
"Well, it did snow once in California, but I was really little and it melted right away." The taxi drove through the seemingly endless land of snow until a large farm came into view in the distance and dropped them off not far from the house. They pulled their stuff from the back and approached the front door. Freddy's mom rang the doorbell.
"I'm coming! It'll be just a minute!" They heard from the other side. The door opened up and standing before them was an elderly woman with her hair pulled back in a bun, wearing a pink dress with a heavy sweater on and a pair of glasses rested on the end of her nose. "Well, butter my backside and call me a biscuit! If it isn't the woman who stole my boy's heart. How's life been treating you these days Eva?"
"It's good to see you too Rita." She said hugging the older woman.
"And how are your boys doing?" She asked.
"Yo Grandma where's the presents?" Bart asked.
"Well Bart, last time I saw you, you were knee-high to a grasshopper!" She said tussling his hair. "And Freddy! Come here you," Freddy walked up.
"Hey Grandma,"
"You're certainly becoming a handsome young man, you sure your my boy's son?" She asked pinching his cheeks.
"Love you too." He said wincing. "Can you let go now?" She smiled and stepped back.
"So, you must be Zack. I've been so excited to meet you." She said.
"Uh, it's nice to meet you ma'am."
"Well, come on in! It's freezing out here." She said, turning around and heading inside. They picked up their things and followed her in. "Jacob! Joshua! Get in here!" She shouted into the house.
"Coming Momma!" Two voices responded, followed by two identical men running in.
"They're here?" One asked in a thick accent. "Why didn't ya tell us they were here?"
"And who's he? I don't recognize him." The other said pointing at Zack.
"Don't point. It's rude behavior. Take their stuff up to their rooms." She told them.
"Yes Momma." They said at once before taking their luggage from them.
"Hey Freddy," One said.
"Hey Bart." The other said following him up the stairs. Zack looked and Freddy puzzled.
"My uncles, Jacob and Joshua. Not the brightest people you'll meet." He explained.
"They certainly aren't the sharpest tools in the shed, but family is family and I love em all the same. Now, sit down, relax. Y'all're so stiff." She encouraged.
"Are Uncle Jesse or Aunt Luane here with their kids yet?" Freddy asked.
"I talked to em last night, they'll be in early tomorrow." She told him.
"Ok, can I show Zack around?" He asked.
"Please do, it'll save me from going out into that." She said with a smile.
"Come on," Freddy said grabbing Zack's hand and heading upstairs first. They walked into a room with several beds and all their stuff in it. "This is where we'll all sleep obviously. You, me, Bart and all my cousins."
"You have alot of them I take it?" Zack asked.
"Oh yeah, my dad's side of the family is huge. He had three brothers and my grandma had six siblings."
"Well, I know what your relatives do for fun." Zack said with a smirk on his face.
"Each other?" Freddy asked.
"Beat me to it."
"Bathroom's across the hall and the stairs to the attic are behind the grandfather clock." He explained making his way back downstairs.
"Wait, wait, wait, only one bathroom?" Zack asked, flabbergasted.
"Deal with it. Not everyone gets their own personal bathroom."
"What a world we live in," Zack said, following his boyfriend down.
"Downstairs we got the living room, rec room, dining room and kitchen with a door to the cellar. Other door to the cellar is on the outside of the house." He continued explaining as he put his heavy coat back on and tossed Zack his own. The two stepped out into the open field of white. There's the barn, obviously and the cowshed, tower silo, toolshed. Greenhouse, but not really useful when it's this cold. Fields are completely snowed over too."
"Can we go to the barn? I just wanna see what's inside."
"I don't see why not." Freddy said as they made their way over. "Not much to see really, just hay and horses-" He started to say as he was pinned against the wall and Zack began to roughly kiss him. "If you wanted to shove your tongue down my throat, you should've just said so." He said with a smirk before they went back to making out. Zack lifted one of Freddy's leg while slipping his other hand under the drummers shirt and felt up his boyfriend's defining abs. Freddy meanwhile, had one arm draped over Zack's shoulders while running his fingers through his boyfriend's hair. Zack pulled his hand out from under Freddy's shirt and began to undo his belt before Freddy grabbed his wrist and stopped him. "S-stop. I don't wanna do it my grandma's barn." He said pushing Zack away lightly.
"It's ok, I understand." Zack said, placing a hand on Freddy's shoulder.
"Let's get back before they get suspicious." Freddy said as they left the barn and headed back to the house. "Hey, we're back!" Freddy announced as the two of them entered.
"Oh perfect, could you two come upstairs and help me get the decorations from the attic?" His grandma called.
"Where's everyone else?" Freddy asked ad he and Zack reached the top of the stairs.
"Bart went out with the twins to chop down a tree while your mother went out into town to pick up a few things." She explained.
"Right, Zack, help me move the clock." The two of them got on either side of the clock and lifted it just enough to move it against the other wall. "We'll be right down Grandma." Freddy. Told her as he and his boyfriend walked up the stairs into the dark attic and turned the flashlights on their phones on.
"Hey Freddy," Zack began.
"What is it Babe?" Freddy asked.
"About back in the barn, I don't want to seem like I was pressuring you into it or anything like that. I mean, I really want to. I mean not harass you, but like just-"
"Babe, it's fine." Freddy said.
"Is it though?" Zack asked. Freddy walked up and pulled Zack into a soft kiss.
"It's alright Zack. You know that I...have really strong feelings for you. Nothing's gonna change that." The two smiled shyly at each other.
"Hey, is that the box we're looking for?" Zack asked, pointing the flashlight on his phone at a box labeled, "X-Mas."
"Either that or my grandma's messing with us." Freddy said, grabbing one side of the box with Zack grabbing the other and taking it downstairs. When they made it down, Bart had made it back with the twins and a tree.
"Perfect timing boys. Crack that box open." Rita told them. Freddy ripped the box open excitedly and began pulling out lights and ornaments and also found a white cowboy hat and looked at questioningly.
"Hey, uncle Jacob, uncle Joshua, did this belong to either of you?" He asked as it seemed to small for an adult's head.
"Nah, not me." Joshua told him.
"I think it might've been your dad's before he-" He began to say before getting elbowed in the stomach by his brother.
"This belonged to Dad?" He asked, looking at it. "Hey Grandma? Do you think I-"
"I'm sure he'd want you to have it." Freddy nodded and put it on his head. He looked back at his grandma. "You look just like him." She said with a small smile. Freddy smiled big and felt his eyes begin to tear up. He composed himself and turned to Zack.
"How do I look?" He asked.
"Looks good, it really suits you." He told him.
"Well, thank ya pardnah," Freddy said in a fake accent, getting a chuckle from Zack.
"Ew, stopping being so gross when I'm around." Bart complained.
"You'll act different when you're older." Freddy assured, pulling out more ornaments.
"Iget, you're supposed to wrap the light from the bottom up!" Jacob said, pulling on the lights.
"No you're not! You're supposed to start from the top and work down numnuts."
"Still glad you're here instead of with your family?" Freddy asked, handing Zack and ornament.
"Definitely," Zack told him.
The next day Zack woke up late to the sound of loud voices downstairs. He sat up and shook his head, before getting up and heading downstairs. When he arrived he saw that there were nearly three times the amount of people that were there yesterday.
"Oh Zack, there you are." Freddy said from the middle of the room. "Come on in, meet the rest of my family. This is my uncle Jesse and his wife Luane and their kids Nora, Charlie, Lorraine, Henry, Sarah, Jake, their first set of twins Jessica and Kim, Mark, Mike, and their other twins, Kyle and Nigel.
"You certainly weren't kidding about having a big family. It's nice to meet you all." Zack said waving to all of them.
"We're all gonna head outside in the snow for awhile. You coming?" Charlie asked, in a deep voice. Charlie looked similar to Ashton, only taller and a little more muscular. Needless to say, Zack found him really attractive.
"Um, yeah let me just get my jacket on." Zack said heading back upstairs.
"So Nora, should we prepare for one more this year?" Their Grandma asked Jesse's oldest child, gesturing towards her belly.
"Oh no, this one won't be arriving for some time." She said with a small laugh.
"Ok, I'm ready if you guys are." Zack said coming downstairs.
"Sweet, let's go." Freddy said getting up. "Lorraine are you coming?" He asked.
"And get my new boots wet? No thank you." She replied, while applying nail polish.
"I'll never understand girls," Sarah commented.
"You're a girl," Jake said unnamused. They rest of them stepped outside into the frozen tundra and all went in separate directions to find their own place in the snow.
"So, has your uncle ever tried not having sex?" Zack asked once he and Freddy were out of earshot of the younger kids.
"If I was straight and a wife that looked like her, I wouldn't." Freddy admitted. "But they planned on only having eight, so four of them are accidents."
"I'd hope a dozen kids wasn't planned." He said before he felt a snowball hit the back of his head. "Did you just-?" He asked turning around.
"Maybe," Freddy said still holding another one.
"Oh, you are so going down!" He said bending down to make one himself.
Freddy's cousin, Mark, looked over and saw Freddy chasing Zack with a snowball and saw them run under part of the toolshed and made a one quickly and through it near the top of the shed, causing a large amount of snow to fall off the roof and land on Freddy, knocking him over. Once he climbed to his feet, he saw Zack running over to his cousin in the distance. "This. Means. War!" Freddy shouted.
"They've been out there along time." Eva commented taking a sip of hot cocoa.
"They were all cooped up the way here. They need to be out running around." Jesse said smiling. "I just wish I could get this one outside without needing a mall." He said gesturing to Lorraine.
"Mall? Where?" She asked, taking an earbud out.
"False alarm sweetie." He told her. She groaned and put her earbud back in. "You would not believe how much convincing it took just to get her out here."
"Bart wasn't too excited either once he realized the internet barely works out here." Eva admitted.
"Kids and their phones," Rita started. "You know when I was their age-"
"Here we go again." Everyone in the room said at once.
"Wait, do you all hear that?" Luane asked. Everyone quieted down to hear and walked outside. The outside which had once been a mostly flat plain of snow, but now it better resembled a war zone. Complete with walls and dugouts and what looked like tunnels dug through the snow.
"Why don't we just leave them to their own devices for awhile?" Jesse said, before turning around and heading back inside.
"Kyle, Nigel, do you have the enemy in sight?" Freddy asked the twins as the peaked through the looking hole in one of their walls.
"Does Bart count?" Kyle asked.
"He chose his side." Freddy told them bluntly.
"Was it really smart to send out Bart, Captain Zack?" Mike asked.
"Freddy's determined sure, but he wouldn't open fire on his own brother."
"You clearly don't know your boyfriend as much as you think you do." Jake commented.
"Wait, Freddy's walking out alone." Jessica told them. Everyone looked out to see Freddy approaching his younger brother in the middle of the field.
"Hey Bart. You out here by yourself?" Freddy asked.
"Yeah, Freddy I made a mistake." He said looking down.
"What happened?" He asked.
"I should've chosen your side. You're my brother. You kept me from going to jail. I was wrong siding with Zack."
"Hey, it's alright. It's not too late. Come over to my side." He said kneeling down and holding out his hand.
"Now!" Bart shouted as Zack and everyone on his side rushed from the dugouts towards Freddy and surrounded him.
"You let your guard down. Bad move Babe." Zack said smirking.
"Oh geez, whatever will I do? Eagle! Eagle!" He cried out. Zack and forces looked around and saw Freddy's troops pop out from behind the walls surrounding them. "So, who let their guard down?" He asked in a smug voice.
"Wait, where's Sarah?" Charlie asked, noticing her absence from the scene taking place. Zack let out a small smile.
"What are you planning Zack?" Freddy asked.
"Well you see, she was kind enough to let me on her 'dark gift' as she called it."
"Oh no," Freddy said, his eyes growing wide. He looked around panicked. Not knowing what to expect from his cousin's mind. He couldn't see her at all, couldn't hear her either, making him more worried about what was going to happen. "Retreat!" He shouted, but upon Kim taking one step, she sunk down into the snow. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked around as all the cousins on his side started falling down into the snow.
"Funny thing; dig down under the snow and it makes it easy to crumble under the weight of a person." Zack commented.
"Fine, I'll just retrace my steps and-" He was cut off when his feet stuck on his way back.
"Knew you were gonna do that." Zack said and Freddy struggled to free his feet. "You may have started this war, but I'm finishing it." Zack said taking a snowball smacking Freddy square in the face with it. Zack and all those on his side started cheering.
"Gotta say, that was impressive strategizing Babe. You really know how use people's gifts. As irritating that may be for others." He said glaring at Sarah who had dug herself to the surface.
"Alright everyone, come on inside now! It's getting dark and your food's getting cold." Their grandma called from the doorway. Everyone ran inside and found their own spot at the large table and began eating.
"Where's Freddy?" Eva asked.
"I think he went out back." Charlie told her.
"Oh, of course." She said in realization.
"What's out back?" Zack asked.
"Go visit him Zack. I think it'll help." He looked confused at first but got up and went through the back door and saw Freddy out in the field of snow. As he got closer he noticed two graves in front of him.
"Hey Freddy? Are you coming inside?" He asked when he got close.
"Oh, yeah. I'll be right there. Come here, I want you to me two people." Zack walked up beside his boyfriend and felt him grip his hand tightly. "This is my grandpa. He passed away before I was born so I never got the chance to meet him, but Grandma would tell me and Bart stories about him all the time. And this," He said taking a pause, "is my dad." Zack's eyes widened.
I almost forgot Freddy's dad passed away not too long ago. I can't imagine how hard it must be on him. I mean, I don't get along with my dad very well but I can't imagine him not being here anymore.
"I really wish you could've met him. He-he never knew I was gay, but I know he'd still love me. He would wouldn't he? I mean, he was my dad, he wouldn't…." His voice trailed off as tears began to slide down his face. Zack pulled him into a tight hug and began rubbing his back.
"Freddy, you're right. He was your father, he'd love you no matter what. I swear. I thought my dad wouldn't approve of my being gay, but he didn't care. He didn't exactly like who I chose to date," Freddy laughed a bit, knowing he meant him. "But if he ever loved you, he would no matter what."
"Thanks Zack, I needed that. Man, I wish you could've met him, he would've liked you."
"I think I would've liked him too." Zack said with a smile. Freddy looked up the two leaned into a deep, romantic kiss. When they broke apart, they looked at each other to the point where they got lost in each other's eyes.
"Zack, I….I….'m really hungry, let's go inside." He said walking off. Zack looked confused but followed him back towards the house.
"Alright, anyone under thirteen, y'all can open a present now!" Rita announced. It was Christmas Eve. Zack and Freddy had grown even closer over the holiday. His family as well had grown used to Zack being around and had come to enjoy his company.
All the younger kids picked out one present each and began to unwrap them. "Oh cool! A new yoyo!" Kyle said opening his.
"I got one too!" Nigel said.
"I wanted the blue one!" Kyle cried.
"Well, I want to green one!" Nigel replied.
"Trade?"
"Trade."
"Wow, roller blades. I can't wait to try these out!" Mike said with a smile.
"On the count of three. Ready?" Jessica asked. Kim nodded. "One,"
"Two,"
"Three!" The yelled at once open tore the wrapping paper off.
"Wow, it's huge!" Kim said in awe at the site of their new doll house that was more than half their size.
"Oh boy, can't wait to try to fit that in the car." Luane mumbled. "Come on Jake, just open one." She pleaded with her son. "Here, open mine. I promise you'll like it." She said, handing him a box.
"Fine," He said with a sigh. He opened the box and his eyes went wide when he saw what was inside. "You really…?" He asked pulling out a pair of black skinny jeans.
"I know how much you wanted them, so I felt you were old enough to have them."
"Wow, thanks Mom." He said finally smiling.
"My turn!" Sarah announced as shx picked up a present with her name on it. She quickly ripped it open and gasped. "Finally!" She said pulling out a slingshot.
"Did you get her that?" Luane asked her husband.
"I most certainly did not." Jesse told her.
"I did." Nora told her parents.
"How could you?" Luane asked.
"It's all she's wanted for years, just let her have it." Nora told them.
"Glad I don't live with her." Freddy commented. "Knowing her, she'll think of alot more things than just shooting people with it." Zack nodded in response.
Mark opened his up quietly and pulled out a telescope. "So cool," He said.
"Here Bart, open mine." Freddy said passing him a gift.
"It's not gonna explode or something is it?"
"Just open your present." Freddy told him. Bart shrugged and opened it and grew excited.
"You got me a switch?! This is amazing! Thanks so much Freddy!" He said, hugging his big brother.
"How in the world did you afford that?" Zack asked.
"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Freddy said with a smile.
Later that night, Zack woke up at almost midnight. He looked around and saw that everyone else was still sound asleep. He walked downstairs and turned the Christmas tree lights on and sat down in the chair facing the window and stared out into the snow covered field.
"Couldn't sleep?" He heard someone say and turned around and saw his boyfriend at the bottom of the stairs.
"No, I don't know why so I thought I'd just look out at the snow for awhile."
"Same here. I'll make some cocoa." He said walking into the kitchen. Zack got up from his chair and followed him. "Having a good time?" Freddy asked.
"Yeah, it's been great spending Christmas with you." Freddy smiled. "A-and your family too, they're all great."
"Marshmellows?" Freddy asked.
"Oh yeah, please." After their cocoa was done, hey walked back out into the living room and Zack eyes went straight to the window. "Oh my God, Freddy look." He said. Freddy looked out the window and saw the snow falling down. "Isn't that amazing?" He asked sitting back down.
"Yeah, I love watching the snow fall every year I'm out here." Freddy said sitting down on the amr of the chair Zack was in. The two of them sat for awhile and just the watched as they enjoyed being with each other for the night. "Hey Zack?"
"What's up Babe?"
"I wanted to tell you something."
"Yeah?" Zack said turning toward Freddy.
"I know it's kind of soon, ok it's way soon since we've only been dating for like four months. But I just want you to know that I...I love you." He said shooting his head away. "Gah, I knew it was too soon. I'm such an idiot." He said standing up and taking a few steps away.
"Freddy," Zack said standing up.
"You know what, forget it. I shouldn't of said anything."
"Freddy," Zack said, turning him around and tilting his head up to look him in the eyes. "I love you too." Freddy's eyes looked wide as the two came together and began to kiss each other hard. Zack, once again began to unbutton Freddy's pajama shirt, only this time, Freddy didn't stop, didn't struggle, didn't even seem to notice or maybe he didn't care. They made their way over to the couch and laid down while continuing to make out. Zack sat up and and removed his shirt.
"Before we go any further, are you sure you want to do this?" Zack asked. Freddy was breathing quickly and nodded. "I need to hear you say it." Zack reaffirmed.
"Yes. I want to do this with you Zack." Freddy said after a deep breath.
"Ok, we'll go slow at first." Zack told him leaning back down.
Zack woke up the next morning and looked down to see Freddy still asleep in his arms. He couldn't help smile remembering the night they had. Freddy shook himself awake and looked up to see Zack looking down at him. "Hey," he said.
"Hey," Zack responded.
"That was…you were…." Freddy was trying to find the words to say.
"We were great." Zack said, finishing up.
"Well well, what do we have here?" Rita said arriving in the living room.
"Grandma!" Freddy cried jumping up, before quickly grabbing the blanket to cover up his still naked body. "We were just….well you see….it's just that-"
"Get dressed you two," She said with a chuckle. "You don't want anyone else to catch you like that." She said leaving the room.
"You're grandma's amazing." Zack said after an awkward silence.
"So are you, now get dressed." Freddy said getting up to grab his clothes. Soon afterwards, everyone began to wake up and came to gather in the living room and each of them had a turn at opening presents. Some were happy with what they got under the tree, others not so much.
"Is that all of them?" Rita asked, Everyone seemed to have opened their presents, but she was just making sure.
"Uh, there's one more." Zack said shyly, handing a box out to Freddy.
"For me? You didn't have to get me anything Babe." He said taking the box.
"Well, sure I did. You let me come out here to spend Christmas with you and your family. I couldn't just not repay the gesture." Freddy smiled and opened the box. What he found inside shook him to his core.
"You got me the Dave Grohl signed sticks! How on earth did you get these?! When I called the music store the said that someone had already bought...them…" He looked back and his boyfriend to see a sneaky smile spreading across his face. "You little weasel, come here!" He said pulling Zack into a hug and kissing his cheek repeatedly.
"Freddy, cut it out." He laughed, trying to get out of the drummer's arms.
"While we're swapping gifts, I got you something too." Freddy said pulled a small box out of the pocket of his robe.
"I didn't have to get you anything? You brought me all the way out here and got me a gift."
"I know, I know. Just open it." Freddy said excited. Zack slowly opened the box to see what looked like a heart shaped necklace. Well, half of one at least, it had cracks down the middle. He looked at it questioningly before taking it out.
"FJ? Aren't those-" Zack began to asked before he was cut off by Freddy.
"My initials," He said pulling out another necklace that also has a half heart shape to it. He held up the other one to show a "ZM" engraved on it. "And they fit together look." He said putting them next to each other. They did what he said. Lining up the cracks perfectly to for a full heart. Zack put his hands over his mouth as tears of joy began to roll down his face. "I mean it Zack. I love you." Was all Freddy said before the two embraced in a romantic kiss lasting what felt like eternity.
"What that say on the back?" Zack asked seeing a timestamp now that the necklaces were together. "Twelve thirty-six?'
"That's what time it was when...when you told me you really liked me. When we shared our first kiss." Freddy said in a shy voice before putting his necklace on. "I had it made so that we're wearing each other's initials so that, even when we're far apart, we're still together. Merry Christmas Zack."
"Merry Christmas Freddy."